page_title: Vrishni heroes
section_title: Identity
hierarchical_section_title: Vrishni heroes / Identity
caption_attribution_description: English: Vrishni triad shown in a rock painting at Tikla, M.P. 3rd-2nd century BCE
context_page_description: The Vrishni heroes, also referred to as Pancha-viras, are a group of five legendary, deified heroes who are found in the literature and archaeological sites of ancient India. Their earliest worship is attestable in the clan of the Vrishnis near Mathura by 4th-century BCE. Legends are associated with these deified heroes, some of which may be based on real, historical heroes of the Vrishni clan. Their early worship has been variously described as cross-sectarian, much like the cult of the Yakshas, related to the early Bhagavata tradition of Hinduism, and with possible links to Jainism as well. They and their legends – particularly of Krishna and Balarama – have been an important part of the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism.
  The Vrishnis were already known in the late Vedic literature. They are also mentioned by Pāṇini in Astadhyayi verse 6.2.34, while Krishna is referred to as Krishna Varshneya in verse 3.187.51 of the Mahabharata. Beyond texts, their importance in ancient India is attested by the ancient inscriptions found near Mathura and coins discovered in the ruins of Ai-Khanoum, bearing images of the two main Vrishni heroes, with Greek and Brahmi legends.
context_section_description: The historical roots and the identity of the Vrishni heroes is unclear. Several interpretations have been proposed.
caption: Vrishni triad shown in a rock painting at Tikla, Madhya Pradesh, 3rd-2nd century BCE. These would be Saṃkarṣaṇa (with plough and mace), Vāsudeva (with mace and wheel) and a female deity, probably Ekanamsha.[24]
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